THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9604300130
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Education
SOURCE: BY JOAN C. STANUS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 112 lines
In Stephanie Tomasula's fourth-grade classroom each Thursday, 20 girls pledge to do their duty to their country, to help others and obey the Girl Scout law.
Next door, Sterling White's fourth-grade class of boys pledge to never quit, to have confidence in themselves, respect others and never do drugs.
At James Monroe Elementary, nestled in the midst of one of Norfolk's most depressed and crime-ridden neighborhoods, two classrooms in both the fourth and fifth grades are separated by more than walls.
They're segregated by sex. Boys only in one classroom; girls only in the next.
Apart, they're traveling a slightly different path in securing an education.
Teachers say there are fewer distractions, less teasing in these classrooms. They're discovering that students are more disciplined and develop stronger bonds with their teacher when grouped by sex. Especially for kids 10 and 11, who are just beginning to experience the pangs of puberty, a same-sex curriculum can go a long way toward addressing the needs of development.
In Tomasula's classroom, for example, the Colonial Coast Girl Scouts Council established its first in-school troop. The council even supplied a leader. For an hour each week, an architectural student from Norfolk State University who lives in nearby Park Place works with the girls on merit badges, community projects and other activities.
``Most of these girls live in my neighborhood, and I already knew them,'' said Amber Wood, 22. ``When I was younger, I was in Girl Scouts, and it was good for me. I wanted to help them know it, too.''
``It really gives the girls a feeling of belonging,'' Tomasula said. ``Only one or two girls chose not to join, but now I know they wish they had.''
Eager to help, the Park Place Civic League and the American Federation of Government Employees donated money for the girls' uniforms.
In the all-boys classroom, White emphasizes character development, self-esteem and goals for success. At the start of each morning, the boys march in formation around the room, then line up, hands on each other's shoulders, to recite a creed and class motto.
``I love myself,'' they chant. ``That's why when the going gets rough, I know I need to do my best ... I love myself.''
White's class of boys is also one of only two in Virginia to participate in an Internet project that involves 30 schools across the country. The topic they chose to contribute was on a Norfolk civil rights activist, the late Evelyn Butts.
``This classroom works so well because now they believe in themselves,'' White said. ``Now, they have a strong inner peace. They want to succeed. They say I'm mean; I'm tough. But they know it's tough love.''
The school is only the second one in the city to experiment with same-sex classrooms. After Bowling Park Elementary broke ground within the system by starting same-sex classrooms seven years ago, principal Barbara Higgins approached her staff with the idea of creating their own.
``Politically, we could have run into a few snags, but in this neighborhood, where we are looking to intervene and help these kids experience success, we do whatever is necessary,'' Higgins said.
The teachers agreed.
``I loved the idea,'' said White, 29. ``I knew the boys in this area needed more guidance than some. I wanted to give it to them and let them see that they could succeed.''
``I couldn't believe it because that's exactly what I wanted,'' added Troy Sterling, teacher of the all-boys fifth-grade class. ``During this time of mental and physical development for these students, I felt I could relate to them on other levels. Having all males, I would have more flexibility to entertain questions they might have.''
The students, too, see the benefit of the concept. At the beginning of the school, Tomasula asked her girls to write a paper on whether they liked - or disliked - a same-sex classroom.
The girls were almost unanimous in favor of separating the sexes. Their reasoning ranged from ``boys leave the toilet seat up'' to ``less teasing.''
``Shy girls really benefit,'' Tomasula said. ``One girl, for example, who is a little overweight and experienced a lot of teasing from the boys has really blossomed in her work, because now she has more confidence in herself.''
The boys, likewise, say the girls ``bother them.''
``If we have girls in the class, they always want to mess with you,'' noted Andre Smith, 9. ``I hope I get in an all-boys class next year, too.''
Higgins admits she handpicked students for the classes.
``I tried to make it a good mix,'' she said. ``I wanted high and low students, some demons who had reformed and some who were angels. I knew some of the problems we were having and where we wanted to intervene ... and it's worked out well.''
Although the teachers still are waiting for definitive measures of success - standardized tests the students took earlier this year - Higgins has seen a difference in the students in at least one area.
``Referrals to the office are certainly down,'' she said.
The teachers say grades have improved, too.
Like the teachers and students, parents also have embraced the experiment. Higgins had only two parents initially resistant to the idea, and one finally agreed to allow her daughter to join the class. Other parents have come to Higgins, ``insisting their children be included.''
Buoyed by their response, Higgins is considering adding more classes next year.
``We're still getting feedback from parents to see if there's a real interest for this in the community and evaluating how successful this has been,'' she said. ``But so far, I've been very pleased. The difference in these students has been exciting to see for all of us.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
Barbara Higgins, principal at James Monroe Elementary School, talks
with students in teacher Sterling White's all-boys fourth-grade
class.
by CNB